Premier League: Soucek secures a point for West Ham
Brentford 1 - 1 West Ham United
Tomas Soucek's second-half goal secured a point for West Ham against Brentford after Bryan Mbeumo netted a lightning-fast opener for the hosts within the first minute.
For the third consecutive Premier League match, Brentford scored in under 60 seconds, with Mbeumo expertly curling a volley beyond Alphonse Areola's reach.
Despite the early setback, West Ham maintained a positive approach, dominating the chances in the first half. Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, and Mohammed Kudus all had opportunities, though only Kudus managed to test the keeper.
Brentford, after their early burst, seemed content to sit back and absorb the pressure. Their next significant effort came in the 34th minute when Mbeumo headed over the bar.
West Ham’s persistence paid off shortly after the break. Soucek, drafted into the starting line-up to replace the suspended Edson Alvarez, capitalised on a loose ball and calmly slotted home from close range.
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As the game hung in the balance, Brentford began to control possession and created a few promising opportunities. Yehor Yarmoliuk came closest to restoring their lead, but his shot was saved.
In the final 10 minutes, West Ham pushed Brentford deep into their own half and almost snatched a late winner when substitute Crysencio Summerville saw his shot from a tight angle deflect onto the roof of the net.
The draw leaves Brentford 12th in the Premier League, while West Ham remain 14th.
More analysis of an eventful 90 minutes
Scoring early has become a habit for Brentford, who are the first team in Premier League history to score within the first minute of three consecutive matches.
Mbeumo, who scored just 23 seconds into last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham, repeated the feat today with a fine finish after only 37 seconds. Likewise, Yoane Wissa needed just 22 seconds to score in Brentford’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on 14 September.
Yet, as with their defeats to Spurs and City, Brentford could not build on their early success and were left to rue missed opportunities. Only Mbeumo (5) and Wissa (3) have found the net in the Premier League for Brentford this season, and with Wissa now sidelined for two months due to an ankle injury, the Bees’ attack looks increasingly blunt.
Frustration but still hope for Brentford fans
The Gtech Community Stadium has been a source of comfort for Brentford this season, with two wins on home soil so far. However, they have yet to pick up a point away from home, having faced tough trips to Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham.
It's too soon to start questioning Thomas Frank’s position. The Danish manager has solidified Brentford’s place in the Premier League, a remarkable achievement for a club that was playing League Two football as recently as 2009. But with Ivan Toney’s summer departure and Wissa’s absence, Brentford’s attack has lost some of its sharpness.
Defensive frailties are also a concern, the home side are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have dropped 38 points from winning positions since the start of last season – the most in the division.
West Ham fans respond as they fail to win again
Unlike Thomas Frank, the West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui does not have credit in the bank, having only taken charge of the club in the summer.
The Spaniard spent more than £150m in the transfer market, yet he has delivered just one league victory. After a strong start, he would have been pleased to see the Hammers establish a rhythm and control possession, even though it didn't result in an equaliser during a frustrating first half.
Jamie Pugh, a West Ham fan, was more positive than other Hammers fans that we spoke to. He told us: "The mood was actually more negative than I felt was necessary, and I’m an eternal pessimist. Did we look great? Of course not. However, the style of play we know Lopetegui wants to instill in the squad is different from what most of the players have experienced in the past.
"If anything, there were times when I would have liked to see a shot taken instead of another pass. In the end, this is the first point we have taken from them at their home ground since they were promoted to the Premier League."
